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Residential & Housing

Residential Services

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment programs provide habilitation. This program is transitional, with an average stay between six to nine months. Participation in Community Support Services, Inc Intensive Treatment Services (ITS) Programs is a requirement, unless the person is involved with other groups, employment, or other activities as recommended by the treatment team. Residents are approved based on progress towards goals and the level of functioning as assessed by the LOCUS (Level Of Care Utilization System). A person must receive a score of 24 or higher on the LOCUS assessment to remain eligible for residential treatment. A person must also be able to derive benefit from habilitation services in the areas of Illness Management, Independent Living Skills Development, and Social Skills Training, with the potential to live in a more independent setting.

The three homes owned and operated by Community Support Services provide programming and staff on a twenty-four hour basis. Programming is provided to focus on recovery, symptom management, and basic self-care and socialization skills. Residents make choices about activities, menu planning, and the distribution of household duties. The goal of the program is to teach the skills necessary to enable program participants to live in supported community settings.

Tarry House

The agency works collaboratively with Tarry House, a Residential Treatment facility. Tarry House offers structured, twenty-four hour programming designed to promote reintegration of residents to the community. Tarry House uses a step-system to provide regular feedback to residents about their progress in the program, individualized programming, including a token-economy system to shape and reinforce desirable skills and behaviors.

Supported Housing Services

Licensed Adult Care Facilities

Community Support Services, Inc works with a variety of providers offering room, board, and personal care services to persons who require on-going support.. There are various levels of services and supervision provided within each facility. Residents are matched with the appropriate facility based on their support needs and the facility that most closely matches these needs. Placement in Adult Care Facilities is typically reserved for persons who cannot live in other supportive housing programs in the community due to the intensity of their needs.

COMMONS AT MADALINE PARK

The Commons at Madaline Park was originally conceived to address the loss of more than 300 housing units for the most vulnerable citizens of Summit County. Planning for the project began in 2009 and construction is set to begin on Phase I in February of 2013 with a planned opening of January 2014.

Commons at Madaline Park Phase I

• 60 accessible one-bedroom units with a full bathroom and fully appointed kitchen
• Designated for single adult males and females
- 30 units for those who are chronically homeless.
- 24 units for those with chronic mental illness or other multiple co-occurring disabilities
- 6 units for low income veterans in Summit County.

Commons at Madaline Park Phase II - currently in the planning stage

• 40 accessible one-bedroom units with a full bathroom and fully appointed kitchen.
• Designated for single adult males and females
- 10 units for those who are chronically homeless and disabled
- 10 units for disabled individuals
- 20 units designated for veterans, disabled individuals, homeless individuals, and low income

The Commons at Madaline Park I & II will be developed on Brownstone Ave., located on the Northeast side of Akron. Both projects will feature four-story new construction facilities built with similar materials and design attributes. This will help foster a sense of community and greatly enhance the existing neighborhood. Some of the features will be: vegetable garden, flower garden, covered bike racks, a store for residents, computer room, local transportation, exam room, group room, and much more. This project will create an ideal environment for persons formerly homeless to recover.

The Commons at Madaline Park Phase II will target “hard-to-house” homeless, many of whom have little or no income. Consistent housing is often unobtainable for this vulnerable population due to past history, which often includes evictions, mental illness, addictions, and behavior problems. This project will work closely with the Commons at Madaline Park I to meet the needs of the residents and the community.
To view more information regarding the Commons at Madaline Park projects, please click below.

North Coast Community Homes

The adult mental health system currently has more than 100 apartments owned and operated by North Coast Community Homes. These properties are designed to provide affordable housing to persons who are eligible for Community Support Services, Inc services. Tenants of these apartments pay only 40 percent of their income for rent and utilities and must apply for Section 8. North Coast staff provides management and maintenance of the apartments, while the Community Support Services, Inc residential department is the referral source when vacancies exist. Priority for housing is for persons who are homeless, difficult to house, or leaving transitional housing.

Housing Assistance Program

The Housing Assistance Program (HAP) provides transitional rental assistance connected to various apartments managed by North Coast Community Homes and other landlords. These apartments are inspected to ensure that the housing meets “Housing Quality Standards”. Supportive services are provided through the Community Support Services, Inc Community Psychiatric Supportive Treatment (case management) department to individuals leasing these apartments based on the individual’s needs and desires. Tenants pay 40 percent of their income for housing, and the rental assistance pays the balance of the rent. This assistance is ended when the participant receives a Housing Choice Voucher (formerly called a Section 8 voucher) or after 3 years of participation. Individuals must be eligible for a Housing Choice Voucher in order to participate in the HAP.

Shelter Plus Care Program

The Shelter Plus Care Program is only available to those individuals who are currently homeless. The program provides a set-aside of Housing Choice Vouchers to individuals who qualify as homeless with a severe and persistent mental illness. A letter from a homeless shelter (or from the case manager if the person is on the street) is necessary to verify homelessness. Participants pay 30 percent of their income for rent and utilities. Priority is given to those individuals who are deemed “Chronically Homeless” as defined by HUD. The Residential Department of Community Support Services, Inc refers qualified individuals to the local housing authority who administers the vouchers. Community Support Services, Inc is responsible to provide a dollar for dollar match in supportive services for each dollar of rental assistance provided.

Waterloo Safe Haven & Weisman House

The Safe Haven programs are designed to create a safe, secure environment for homeless individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses to engage in treatment at their own pace. Tenants are not required to participate in services but are required to follow basic house rules. Tenants sign a traditional tenant landlord lease and are required to pay 30% of their income toward rent. Both facilities are monitored 24 hours a day. Referrals to these programs are submitted to the residential department.

Returning Home Ohio

Returning Home Ohio (RHO) is a permanent supportive housing program targeting offenders released from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction state institutions who are identified as homeless or at risk of homelessness upon release. Persons must fall into one of 2 categories: 1) Severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) with or without a co-occurring disorder; 2) HIV with or without SPMI. RHO offers a cost effective combination of safe, affordable housing with a range of supportive services that helps participants live stable, independent and healthy lives. Voluntary supportive services are individualized to each person depending on his or her strengths and resources, needs and barriers. Each participant has a supportive services plan with goals focused on self-sufficiency and housing stability. Linkages and partnerships with local resources and community organizations provide additional options for services and continued rental subsidy which are essential to the program.

Referrals can be accepted for an offender up to 120 days post release. Priority is given to offenders identified as being most likely to require supportive services in order to maintain housing and stability. Referrals are also accepted from community providers such as homeless shelters, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) teams and halfway houses.

Loan Assistance Program

The Loan Assistance Program is an interest-free revolving loan program to assist individuals meet costs associated with starting a household. Eligible expenses include security and utility deposits and basic furniture. Payments are negotiated to keep loans affordable, with loan amounts not to exceed the ability to pay off the loan within 18 months.

AMHA Liaison Services

Liaison Services refer to the availability of assistance in obtaining information necessary to successfully obtain and maintain housing administered through the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA). This assistance is offered to individuals applying for housing through the senior, family development, or Housing Choice Voucher Program at AMHA. Services include verification of applicant placement on the waiting list. Assistance in navigating the appeals process for persons denied services due to disqualification from programs, and assistance in obtaining accommodations for disability-related housing issues.